Associate Director, Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement

Position Title & Department:

Associate Director, Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement; School of Leadership and Education Sciences Posting #

5597

Department Description:

Rooted in social justice, led by compassion, inspired by curiosity, driven by a shared vision.

Mother Rosalie Hill Hall on the University of San Diego campus is home to the School of Leadership and Education Sciences' (SOLES) vibrant and vision-driven collective of academic departments, centers and institutes. Here, we combine innovation with introspection, academics with real-world application, and study with social impact.

Our nationally-accredited programs span the realms of leadership, teaching and counseling, both at graduate and undergraduate levels. They're all approached with an emphasis on social justice, multiculturalism and a determination to forge a better world together.

University Description:

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.

Detailed Description:

This is a full-time temporary, benefit-based position with an anticipated end date of May 31, 2029. The appointment is renewable at the discretion of the University and dependent upon performance and continued funding.

The University of San Diego, School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES), in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, hosts the long-established Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement. The Community Engagement Classification serves as the leading framework for higher education community engagement work and is widely used to establish benchmarks and criteria for effectively institutionalizing community engagement across diverse institutional contexts. The classification serves as a national method for recognizing exceptional institutionalization of community engagement.

Reporting to the Assistant Dean for Assessment and Accreditation/Executive Director, the Associate Director of Community Engagement Classification Operations serves as the primary operational and programmatic lead for the University of San Diego’s role as the institutional host of the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. This position provides day-to-day coordination and management of activities associated with the classification, ensuring a high-quality, equitable, and impactful national framework that supports institutional learning and recognition in community engagement.

The Associate Director is responsible for managing complex, multi-stakeholder processes, including communications, applicant support, technical assistance, reviewer recruitment and training, convenings, resource development and continuous improvement of the classification framework and review process, while coordinating closely with the Assistant Dean/Executive Director and Dean of SOLES on strategic priorities and external engagement.

This role requires a highly organized, strategic, and collaborative leader who thrives in a dynamic environment and brings a strong understanding of higher education, community engagement, and large-scale initiative management.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Classification Operations and Program Management

• The Associate Director leads the day-to-day administration of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, ensuring effective execution of all operational components across the classi